Stair construction



Jan. 7, 1958 F. L. HOLZER 2,818,945

STAIR CONSTRUCTION Filed May 14, 1954 INVENTOR. fle p e/ax J. %zz/e United grates Patent 2,818,945 STAR CUNSTRUQTIUN Frederick L. Helper, Chicago, Ill. Application May 14, 1954, Serial No. 429,913 1 Claim. (1. 189-43) This invention relates to a stair construction and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over that disclosed in my copending application bearing Serial No. 424,902.

Among the several objects of my present invention is the provision of a novel arrangement for attaching to the stringers the risers, whereby the several parts of the stairconstruction may be fabricated in the factory and either there assembled or shipped in collapsed form to the job for assembly on the job in a manner requiring the least amount of labor.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a stair construction embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a stringer having attached thereto the riser;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragementary sectional detail view of a stringer and riser embodied in the invention, but showing a modified form of construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings showing my preferred form of construction and by which the several objects of my invention may be accomplished, the stair construction includes spaced stringers arranged in parallel relation with respect to each other and preferably for strength and lightness each in the form of elongated tubes. Formed in the top surface of each stringer 10 is a groove or channel 11 extending the full length of the stringer.

The treads of my improved stair construction comprise relatively flat stair plates 12 each having its transverse edge portions bent reversely with respect to each other to provide flanges 13 substantially at right angles with respect to the medial portion 14 of the tread. The flanges 13 of the tread are in alignment with the flanges 13 of the adjacent tread. Each tread is supported by a pair of risers 15. Each of the risers 15 is formed from an elongated strip of material having its opposite end portions 16 and 17 bent in reverse directions to provide horizontally extending arms for attachment to the treads 12. These arms 16 and 1'7 may be attached to their respective treads by suitable rivets 18. The arms 16 and 17 may by a suitable tool be adjusted relative to the portion 17 of which they are a part so as to properly position and accommodate them with respect to the under surfaces of the tread 12.

The arm 17 of the risers 15 is integrally connected with the intermediate portion 17' of the riser by an inclined heel portion 19. This heel portion 19 is adapted to be mounted in the channel 11. The adjacent edge portions 20 defining the channel 11 are swaged upon the top of the heel portion 19 to secure the heel portion 19 within the channel 11.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, the remaining open portion of the channel 11 between adjacent risers 15 has mounted therein a spacer or filler bar 21 which properly spaces adjacent risers in the position shown in Fig. l.

In lieu of these spacer bars 21, there may be provided suitable lugs 22 which serve to properly locate and retain within the channel 11, with the cooperation of the swaged edges 20, each riser. In the drawing 1 have shown four of such lugs 22; however, it is clear that there may be employed but one pair of lugs located with respect to the heel portion to prevent downward movement thereof within the channel 11.

The foregoing construction provides a rigid, durable and economical stair construction. As it is contemplated that the several parts be formed of suitable metal, the stair construction is also fireproof.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into elfect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A stair construction comprising a pair of parallel extending tubular stringers, each of said stringers provided on the top longitudinal surface thereof with laterally extending spaced apart flanges providing therebetween a longitudinally extending channel, a plurality of Z-shaped tread supporting members formed from a relatively flat bar bent to provide a riser portion and reversely extending top and bottom tread supporting portions of substantially equal lengths, said top and bottom tread supporting portions being of a length equal to half the distance between riser portions of corresponding tread supporting members, a removable tread connecting oppositely corresponding tread supporting portions in end abutment with respect to each other, said riser portions of each of said members at its point of junction with said bottom tread supporting portion bent diagonally with respect to said riser portion and said tread supporting portion and in parallel relation with respect to said stringer to form a heel portion, said heel portion being of a width equal to the space between said channel forming flanges so as to be slidably contained therebetween, a spacer bar of a width equal to the distance between said channel forming flanges so as to he slidably contained therebetween and of a length equal to the distance between riser portions of said tread supporting members to space said heel portions of said members in spaced relation with respect to each other, said spacer bar engaging said heel portions in said channel so as to prevent lateral movement of said heel portions in said channel and to align the members of one stringer with the corresponding members of the other stringer.

References Eited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 696,503 Seefels Apr. 1, 1902 1,701,659 Bechtel Feb. 12, 1929 1,865,059 Ragsdale June 28, 1932 1,866,584 Spencer July 12, 1932 2,186,866 Hussey Jan. 9, 1940 2,287,561 Page et al June 23, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 424,200 Great Britain Feb. 14, 1935 

